Pages

Monday, February 4, 2013

Historical News and Notes: Colonial Houses of Philadelphia

The following appeared in the Literary Notes section of the New York Tribune, on February 4, 1912

Colonial Houses of PhiladelphiaThe J.B. Lippincott Company, of Philadelphia, purposes to publish, in a limited edition, a work on "The Colonial Homes of Philadelphia and Its Neighborhood" by Harold Donaldson Eberlein and Horace Mather Lippincott. Among the various town houses to be treated will be the Morris, Powell, Wharton, Sergeant, Caspar Wistar, Bishop White, General Moylan, Blackwell and Bingham houses. Among the country seats, besides the more famous places like Cliveden, Laurel Hill, Stenton and The Woodlands, a number of the lesser known seats will be included, such as Wyck, Wakefield, Carlton, Spring Bank and Loudoun in the Germantown district; Hope Lodge and Highlands, in Whitemarsh; Whitby Hall, in West Philadelphia; Bolton Farm, Andalusia, Pen Rhyn and Graeme Park, in Bucks; The Grange, Pencoyd, Fatland, Mill Grove, Harriton and Moore Hall, in Montgomery, and Cedar Grove, Port Royal House and Chalkley Hall, in Frankford. Sufficient genealogical notes will be given to make clear the connection between the places and the several families through whose possession they have successively passed. While aiming primarily to picture historic houses and the social life of the period in which they were built, due emphasis will be laid on their association with local events of national import.

Despite their plans for a limited edition, the book has been reprinted and is still available for purchase.

The Library of Congress has made historic newspapers, dating from 1836-1922, available in their Chronicling America Series. Papers are easily searchable by keywords and location.

No comments:

Post a Comment

A Commonplace Book was a journal with a theme. They could be filled with recipes, quotes, letters, or poems and could be original musings, or copies of things the writer wanted to preserve. Each was unique and meant to be read by others.

Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, noted 18th century writer, poet, and mistress of Graeme Park, kept Commonplace Books throughout her life. Blogs, a sort of 21st century Commonplace Book, seem natural to keep readers informed of what’s new (and old) at Graeme Park.

Enjoy!

About Me

Graeme Park was built c. 1722 for Sir William Keith, governor of the colony of Pennsylvania from 1717-1726. Keith's son-in-law, Dr. Thomas Graeme, purchased the estate in 1739 and set about updating it with the fine Georgian paneling that can still be seen in the house today. Graeme's daughter, the writer Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, inherited the estate upon her father's death in 1772. Elizabeth's husband, whom she married in a secret ceremony, served with the British during the Revolutionary War and as a result Graeme Park was confiscated and the majority of Elizabeth's personal property sold at auction.
Graeme Park is open to the public Fridays - Sundays and to groups by appointment. Please stop by and see us!